Comment: The following article appeared in Politis of Nicosia on 1 October 2003.

We must eliminate any remainings of the sinful past

“Greece
supports Cyprus with all its forces in a substantial, continuous and
constant way” stated the Greek Defence Minister, Yiannos Papantoniou at
his arrival to Cyprus yesterday. Mr. Papantoniou realizes a three-day
official visit to Cyprus and he will attend the military parade on the
occasion of the anniversary of the Republic’s independence.

“The cooperation of the armed forces (of Greece and Cyprus) is
substantial and effective”, noted the Greek Minister and added that
these past years both sides had put great effort to realize the joint
defence space “that acts as a deterrent and operates in an effective
manner”.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Papantoniou said that it
underwent “an especially sensitive phase” and added that after Cyprus’
accession to the EU, which “constituted and constitutes a great national
achievement that upgrades Cyprus’ position internationally”, the
prospects for the settlement of the Cyprus issue “ought to be better”.

“That remains to be proven. It requires struggle, systematic and
steady efforts until we arrive at the desirable outcome, that is a
united Cyprus in a way that will eliminate any remainings of the sinful
past”, noted the Greek Defence Minister. He added that in his contacts
both with President Papadopoulos and the political world during his
three-day official visit to Cyprus, he would try to read into the
political climate and everybody’s thoughts regarding the next steps. He
said that his presence in Cyprus and the contacts he was to have
underlined the importance placed by Greece on the Joint Defence Pact,
the support and solidarity to the Cypriot Hellenism in their struggle
for a just, viable settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Welcoming the Greek Minister at the Larnaca Airport, the Cypriot
Defence Minister, Kyriakos Mavronikolas expressed the gratitude on
behalf of the Cypriot people to the Greece for their help all these
years in all national issues. “The presence of Mr. Papantoniou is
essential so that we establish a continuity in the greatest national
issues”, Mr. Mavronikolas said and added that the help of the Greek
government both within the EU and the international organizations for
the settlement of the Cyprus issue, “have been reinforced by the current
government and the Hellenism in general”.

“Greece has always been a supporter and according to the late
Andreas Papandreou has always fought along with the Cypriot people in
all its battles. Mr. Papantoniou’s presence suggests the continuity of
these efforts until the conclusive vindication of the Cypriot people’s
struggle”, concluded Mr. Mavronikolas."